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Democrats will regain control of the Minnesota Senate following a convincing special election win Tuesday.

DFLer Doron Clark won in the deep-blue Minneapolis district with 90 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results. He succeeds Sen. Kari Dziedzic, whose death in December left the Senate in a 33-33 tie.

According to Hennepin County, the results will be canvassed on Wednesday. That could be quick enough for Clark to be sworn in next week. While the next floor session is Thursday, state law requires seven days to pass from the canvassing board’s action to 

Clark was the DFL-endorsed candidate. He works in ethics and compliance at Medtronic graduated with degrees in religion and economics from Hamline University in 2000.

“I want to take our local stories to St. Paul to fight for our community’s needs. No one can ever fill Kari Dziedzic’s shoes, but I will do everything in my power to live up to her legacy,” Clark told MPR News ahead of the election.

He defeated Republican Abigail Wolters, a software engineer and 2021 University of Minnesota graduate. 

When Clark takes office, it will restore the one-vote edge for Democrats in the Senate and likely spell the end of a power-sharing deal between the caucuses when the chamber was equally divided or the opening weeks of the session. 

"I am excited that the people of Senate District 60 have elected Doron Clark to be their voice in the state Senate,” said Senate DFL Leader Erin Murphy. “We welcome him to this institution and into the work for the people of Minnesota.  His election will restore the DFL majority that has accomplished so much for our state these past two years.”

MPR News Staff

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DFLer Doron Clark won in the deep-blue Minneapolis district with 90 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results.

DFLer Doron Clark won in the deep-blue Minneapolis district with 90 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results. Clark joins MPR News host Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition.

Doron Clark wins Senate special election, DFLers take back the Minnesota Senate

candidate poses for a photo in neighborhood

Doron Clark wins Senate special election, DFLers take back the Minnesota Senate

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